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In Honor of James V. and Fay P. Ryan

The James V. and Fay P. Ryan Foundation was established in May 1986 to honor James V. Ryan, a Town of Tonawanda supervisor who spearheaded the effort to establish the Town of Tonawanda’s paramedic program and support first responder services in our community. Fay P. Ryan, president of the foundation, has built a network of professionals dedicated to delivering and improving advanced pre-hospital emergency care.

As a 100% volunteer not-for-profit organization, we’ve been able to provide countless life-saving tools and educational programs over the years for the paramedics, firefighters and police officers in our area.

While the operating costs for the Emergency Medical Unit, as well as other emergency response divisions are primarily funded by tax dollars, our donations have given our local first responders a competitive edge over similar programs. The foundation has made many of our state-of-the-art equipment purchases possible, therefore allowing the Town of Tonawanda first responders to treat our patients with the latest life-saving equipment and technology.

With our help, Town of Tonawanda first responders are prepared for disaster, such as a large fire, industrial accident, crash of an aircraft or a train collision. Paramedics are equipped with a large trailer stocked with first aid supplies, blankets, water and other necessities to help patients in need. Donations have allowed the Town of Tonawanda paramedics to be almost entirely self-sufficient in medical training, basic vehicle and equipment maintenance, stocking and reordering medical supplies.

Dispatch

Through a centralized dispatch center, patient information is relayed to every police and EMS vehicle immediately. The Town of Tonawanda paramedic units are one of the only units in the area to be intimately linked to 911 dispatchers, allowing a comprehensive description of the emergency situation to be relayed prior to arrival.

Response

All 911 calls in the Town of Tonawanda activate a tiered response system in which dispatchers are able to efficiently send necessary units and personnel to a call. Not only does this prevent the depletion of emergency resources, it also maintains a degree of privacy for the patient.

Arrival and Care

In the Town of Tonawanda, police officers are typically first on the scene, with the fire department close behind. These trained first responders are able to provide oxygen and basic first aid to patients, as well as ensure the safety of other emergency responders at unstable scenes, such as fires or vehicle crashes. Once the Emergency Medical Unit arrives, paramedics are able to provide advanced care, including injury assessments, diabetic comas and cardiac arrest. In the case of a cardiac event, paramedics are able to obtain a detailed EKG and transmit the information directly to the receiving hospital before the patient arrives.

Our Mission

At James V. and Fay P. Ryan, our mission is to support emergency medical services in the Town of Tonawanda and Village of Kenmore. We value our role as responsible stewards of our donor’s funds and our dedicated focus on the needs of first responders. To accomplish our goals and help the community, we provide assistance in a number of ways:

Provide quality emergency service vehicles to the paramedic force.

Support training and continuing education of first responders in the Ken-Ton community.

Donate emergency medical equipment to schools, community organizations and Ken-Ton fire districts.

Support community education in first aid, CPR and medical interventions.

Support service programs that assist first responders in performance.

Every donation matters.

Your donations, no matter the amount, have a direct impact on this community. Here are some of the things we’ve recently purchased with your help.

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New emergency response vehicles

Computers and training programs

Six state-of-the-art cardiac monitor defibrillators

Monitor upgrades and battery replacements

Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)

File of Life program

Emergency medical dispatch program

Legacy

Throughout our lives, many of us choose to make charitable donations to causes and organizations we care deeply about. Planning a legacy gift gives us an opportunity to keep making a meaningful difference in the lives of others, even after we’re gone.

A legacy gift is a donation made to a charity or non-profit as designated in your will. Legacy gifts can be given by anyone and in any size. These gifts represent a unique opportunity to make a cause you care about an important part of your life story.

If you would like more information on leaving a legacy gift to the James V. and Fay P. Ryan Foundation and supporting the Town of Tonawanda’s first responders, please contact us at legacy@kentonryanfoundation.org.

An Interview with Dr. Michael O’Brien

Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Michael O’Brien on behalf of the James V. and Faye P. Ryan Foundation. Dr. O’Brien, whose post-nominals cover most of the alphabet — MD (Doctor of Medicine), FACEP (Fellow of the American College of Emergency...

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Your Donations Funded 3 Ken-Ton EMS Paramedic Classes

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